We as humans are quite baffling. We all have that “gut instinct”, “inner voice” or whatever you want to call it. Many, myself included, don’t always listen to that warning. I think I read once it stems from our primitive brain, left over from when we evolved to what we are today. But don’t quote me on that.
Looking back, hindsight is always 20/20. I wish I’d have paid attention to the alarm bells jangling in my head. I wish I’d been strong enough to put a stop to the relationship before it ever got as far as it did. But as I’ve already stated, good decision making has never been my strong suit.
I was raised in an abusive alcoholic home. I SHOULD HAVE KNOWN BETTER! But hey, I was drinking too. The broken heart had to be soothed in any way I could find. So, I actually PUSHED to get into a relationship with T. I chased her. I was scared and lonely and hurt. So really, who is to blame for what would happen. When it all boils down to it, ME. I made the decision to chase her. In my mind, being alone was the worst thing that could happen to me. Ahhh hind sight….
So the first red flag was the drinking. A functioning alcoholic is a scary thing to deal with. They get off work (when they can hold a job) and start drinking. And they drink. And drink. And drink. Day in, day out. RED FLAG
When I finally “caught her” she would come to my apartment and I’d be at work. She’d turn the heat up to 90 and pass out. Then she’d bitch when I’d be upset about the electric bill. RED FLAG
She would claim that her buying the food and toilet paper etc for the apartment after she moved in was equal to or greater than the rent, cable, internet, electricity that I paid. When I would ask for receipts, I was never shown. RED FLAG
She blamed me for getting fired from the casino. RED FLAG
She kept “score” as to if she bought me a gift, and I didn’t buy her one of equal or greater value. RED FLAG
I would get her a job where I worked, and when it didn’t work out, it was somehow MY fault. RED FLAG.
If she got a job on her own, she’d say because they found out she was gay, she’d get fired and it was MY fault. RED FLAG
Get the picture? I won’t go into 18 years of bullshit and red flags. Suffice to say, I was stupid to not pay attention.
We were both working at a casino, I in surveillance, she in security. She got injured on the job and that is when things got really bad. After finally having surgery on her back, they put her on opioids. Great. An alcoholic on pain meds. It triggered her inner paranoia. And folks, shit got bad.
*Gotta take a break. This shit is still raw*